To become certified, most states require veterinary technicians to pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam, or VTNE. The computerized, multiple- choice exam is 150 questions, and tests whether candidates are able to perform the entry-level skills required of a vet tech, such as providing first aid for injured animals, performing lab tests and preparing animals for surgery. Keep your textbooks and other course materials from your post-secondary training program, to use as study tools for the exam.

Be Proactive

To study effectively for the vet tech exam, begin with the end in mind. Read the candidate bulletin for your certification exam periodically throughout your training program, so that you’ll know which courses and concepts to pay special attention to. Take neat, detailed notes and save them, as well as old tests, to use as study guides after you graduate.

Take a Practice Exam

Take several practice exams before your board exam to get a good idea of your strengths and weaknesses. The American Association of Veterinary State Boards, or AAVSB, offers practice exams. Construct a study plan based on your practice test results, and focus first on the areas where you need the greatest improvement. Continue to take practice exams periodically to measure your progress.

Create a Study Schedule

For best study results while preparing for your vet tech exam, create a consistent schedule that centers around your peak periods of productivity. To give the information time to move from your short-term memory to your long-term memory -- and to keep yourself from having to cram as the exam date draws near -- study a few hours every day. Study in a well-lit area with minimal distractions, and give the exam material your full focus.

Learn Through Repetition

Many exam candidates memorize concepts best through consistent repetition. Write out important concepts and terms on index cards and place them where you’ll see them often, such as on your bathroom mirror, your car dashboard and your refrigerator door. Other memorization techniques that might help include singing words and definitions to a familiar tune or copying concepts repeatedly until you know them by heart.

Get in a Group

Group learning can enhance individual learning. Meet with a few other vet tech certification candidates and study the exam material together. Ask members to take turns explaining difficult concepts to one another, because the test of having truly learned something is to be able to teach it to someone else.

Learn by Doing

Most of the questions on the vet tech exam stem from the many situations that can occur while dealing with animals. Volunteer at an animal shelter or hospital to gain hands-on experience that will prepare you for your certification exam.

About the Author

Oubria Tronshaw specializes in topics related to parenting and business. She received a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing from the Santa Fe University of Art and Design, and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Chicago State University. She currently teaches English at Harper Community College in the Chicago area.

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